Overlea's Barmer aims to please Back leads Falcons into state semifinal

The one who is easiest to please is Barmer's grandfather, Earnest McIntosh, a former Carver High football player who gives the Overlea senior $10 for every win, and $5 for every touchdown.

And in last weekend's 20-0 Class 2A quarterfinal victory over Wicomico, Barmer scored three touchdowns and rushed for 216 yards -- that's $25.

"I owe it all to the linemen -- they really opened the holes and I just hit them the best I could," said Barmer, crediting blockers Bill Brown (6 feet 2, 300 pounds), Mike Knoedler (6-4, 258) and Scott Small (5-8, 287). "That was probably my biggest game of the year and I think I surpassed some expectations."

But of that same performance, Barmer's little brother, Craig McIntosh, said "He ain't that good."

"They're my worst critics," said Barmer of Craig, and his stepbrother, Tyrone Neal, both 7 and participants in the same recreation program that produced Barmer.

"They're really hard on me and rarely have anything good to say about what I do," said Barmer, 16.

Deep down, however, Barmer (5-10, 160 pounds) is their hero.

Without him, it is doubtful that the Falcons would be ranked seventh in the area with a 10-1 record, and the only Baltimore County program remaining in the state playoffs.

Barmer's 20 touchdowns are two more than he scored as an All-Metro first-team player last season. And his 1,412 yards are just 252 yards shy of last year's rushing total.

He can come closer with a good performance Friday night at Dundalk Community College, when the second seed Falcons take on third seed Damascus of Montgomery County in a 2A semifinal game.

Since Barmer began playing as a 9-year-old in the Rosedale recreation program, where his squad twice won titles, he hasn't been in a championship game.

"I've wanted to go to College Park [site of next weekend's 2A state championship] since I've come to Overlea," said Barmer. "We've been there three years in a row now, and I just think this is the year we can put it together."

"[Barmer] had 800 yards as a sophomore and he improved on that last year. I think he came into this season looking to do better than he ever has," said Ward, who has a four-year, 40-5 career record.

Boston College and the University of Maryland are among the schools that have shown interest in Barmer, who says he would "play anywhere -- Division I, II or III."

To do that, however, Barmer may need to bulk up some. He also may need to be a step quicker than his present 4.6 40-yard --.

"He's not an imposing back, but when he takes off his shirt, he's got about 3 percent body fat," said Ward. "He doesn't have great speed. But he's always going forward and he's a great slashing runner with great balance."

Barmer said, "If I was on another team, I'd underestimate me. I'd say, 'He's small, not fast.' But I read the blocks well and I find the hole, get through it and I'm gone."

Wicomico found that out when Barmer carried the ball about four-fifths of the time.

"Coach has told me all season that I'd have to be a leader by example," said Barmer. "So I felt it was my job as a senior to try and step it up to another level. It's been that way in all the tough games -- Chesapeake, Kenwood and Wicomico. The better the team, it seems like the better I play."

He'll need to be even more impressive Friday, both to beat Damascus and to increase his value.